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Conversation 699-008

TapeTape 699StartFriday, March 31, 1972 at 2:00 PMEndFriday, March 31, 1972 at 2:05 PMTape start time03:48:24Tape end time03:55:41ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Butterfield, Alexander P.;  Woods, Rose Mary;  Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen Bull to coordinate administrative tasks and White House scheduling. Key discussions involved entertainment arrangements for an upcoming state dinner honoring Mexican President Luis Echeverria Alvarez, including deliberations on presenting a Medal of Freedom to Fred Waring. The President also dictated personal notes to Dinah Shore and Susan Alsop regarding a recent television appearance and a literary reference to Edmund Burke.

White House scheduleLuis Echeverria AlvarezMedal of FreedomDinah ShoreSusan AlsopRussell Kirk
AudioNARA Description

On March 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:00 pm to 2:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 699-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 699-8

Date: March 31, 1972
Time: 2:00 pm - 2:05 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

     The President's schedule

     [Signing documents]

     Entertainment for the White House
          -Arthur Rubinstein
               -European tour
               -Blacks
               -Organization of American States [OAS] dinner
Rose Mary Woods entered at an unknown time after 2:00 pm

                -Forthcoming dinner for Luis Echeverria Alvarez
           -Fred Waring
                -Dinner for Echeverria
                -Medal of Freedom

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 2:00 pm.

     Schedule
          -Camp David
              -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon

Bull left at an unknown time before 2:05 pm.

     Dinah Shore

           -Note from the President
                -Addressing
                -Dictation
                     -Television show
                           -Julie Nixon Eisenhower
                           -Mrs. Nixon and the President
                           -Julie Nixon Eisenhower

     Dictation of note to Mrs. Joseph W. Alsop [Susan (Patten) Alsop]
          -Book
                -Page 51
                      -Reference made by Russell A. Kirk
                           -Edmund Burke
                           -French Revolution
          -The President’s conversation with Susan Alsop
          -Kirk's book

     Susan Alsop

     Echeverria

The President, Butterfield and Woods left at 2:05 pm.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

We can't get our children to sleep.
We can't get good at science.
So you can't get good at science.
You can't get good at science.
How about having a good accident?
Well, he said he came to me in front of the scooter and told me to hang out with him.
He says he tries to be like a weed or something that he'd be involved in.
Well, could he do the maximum thing?
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
He's trying to be better.
I don't think with a president, one single president here, you would want to present a Medal of Freedom to somebody else.
Would you?
Well, your Medal of Freedom is not... No, I know you don't, but I think it would put the attention too much on him and not on the President of Mexico.
Oh, darling, we're having fun.
We're having a little better.
You'll see.
We're not having any other dinners over, so thank you.
This is his last chance.
Oh, you might have something for me.
Oh, she is, yeah.
Fine.
Okay, thanks.
A question in regard to on Dianne's shore.
I would refer her as well.
I think she'd love it if you said Dianne, because she's been active, you know.
And I...
Well, I was unable to see the television show with Julia.
And it came on in the morning.
I had it replayed for me last night.
And I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it.
You have always been one of my favorite show business personalities.
And that's a very gracious way to receive you in your show.
On page 51 of this book, you will find a reference made by Russell Kirk to Burke's use of the term, quote, the unbombed grace of life, in his
I think you will like this chapter of well worth reading.
I hope you enjoy his
very sensitive discussion of this subject.
Thank you very much.
Yeah, yeah, I would, sure, we expect you to come back, and I don't know if I should, but...
I think she would.
It would mean a lot to her.
Yeah.
And she's been around, you know, she's been by my side the last 10 times.
Have a good trip.
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